The Walking Dead universe is showing no signs of slowing down, with one of its most important partnerships fully restored following the events of Daryl Dixon season 2.

Advertisement

Of course, fans will remember that the show was initially announced as a Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) two-hander, but the latter character was initially dropped from the billing.

Thankfully, their reunion did end up happening, with season 2 – subtitled The Book of Carol – setting the stage for future adventures with the couple in an all-new location.

Yes, Daryl Dixon season 3 is definitely moving forward! Plus, we now have a release date window, a teaser, and a first look at Stephen Merchant, who will be making his The Walking Dead debut in the new instalment.

Here's everything we know so far about the upcoming episodes, following the recent finale.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 release date speculation

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 will air in 2025, it has been confirmed in a teaser following the season 2 finale.

While this is a release date specifically for AMC in the US, season 2 has been airing four days behind the US on Sky and NOW in the UK – so we'd expect season 3 to follow suit (although this hasn't been confirmed yet).

While we don't have a specific release date just yet, we'd expect it to come in the autumn – around September/October.

Melissa McBride as Carol and Norman Reedus as Daryl in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3
Melissa McBride as Carol and Norman Reedus as Daryl in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3. AMC

Indeed, Daryl Dixon was back on our screens with season 2 less than a year after the season 1 finale, with the abbreviated six-episode run helping to keep the show on an annual schedule. If all goes to plan, it seems likely that the spin-off will stick to this path.

Daryl Dixon was renewed for a third season in July 2024 and has been filming in Galicia, Aragón, Catalonia and Valencia in Spain.

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 cast

After largely sitting out the first season (besides one guest appearance), it has been confirmed that Melissa McBride will be returning as Carol for season 3, alongside Norman Reedus as the titular fan favourite Daryl Dixon.

The show will be welcoming some new faces as it changes location, with comedy icon Stephen Merchant being the most high-profile name to join the Daryl Dixon cast.

Stephen Merchant in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3
Stephen Merchant in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3. AMC

While best known for the likes of Extras and The Outlaws, Merchant has taken on dramatic roles before in gritty Marvel blockbuster Logan and BBC One's hard-hitting true crime drama Four Lives.

Fitting with its new locale, the show has also cast a number of Spanish actors for regular season 3 roles, including Eduardo Noriega (The Devil's Backbone), Oscar Jaenada (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) and Alexandra Masangkay (The Platform).

Meanwhile, up and comers Candela Saitta and Hugo Arbues will have recurring roles in the next set of episodes.

What could The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 be about?

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 will see Daryl and Carol leave post-apocalyptic France behind as they make the journey to Spain, where they hope to find more survivors and a viable path home.

A teaser for the new series shows the pair of them traversing different regions of Spain, with Daryl saying: "I was ready to give up. I thought it was all over," as Carol answers: "You and me both."

Details beyond that are sparse at this stage, but showrunner David Zabel has addressed whether the duo will remain in Spain for an as-yet-unconfirmed fourth season or if they will quickly hop over to another European country.

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, holding an axe
AMC

He told Collider: "We could do some more in Spain, or we could move on to another place potentially. I do love the way that we get to reinvent the show when we move from place to place.

"I think it's a great way to keep it fresh and to give new stimuli to these characters who have seen and done so much. There are all kinds of conversations about what a season 4 might look like, and what are some other places the show could go."

Is there a trailer for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3?

Yes! There's a teaser for Daryl Dixon season 3 - you can check it out below:

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon season 3 is coming soon. Watch seasons 1-2 on Sky and NOW. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

Advertisement

For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

David Craig
David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement